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OPERATION CENTRE (EOC)

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The NSRI’s Station 44 at St Helena Bay is a much-needed addition to the West Coast’s rescue infrastructure.

This new station, which has been rapidly developing, addresses a critical need for rescue services around the midpoint between Mykonos and Lambert’s Bay, particularly near the Berg River's mouth, a popular water sports and fishing destination.

The unpredictability of the fishing season in St Helena Bay sometimes leads to emergencies, such as an overloaded vessel capsizing due to the sheer volume of fish caught. "One never knows when the fish will appear. So when they do, boats rush out and make the most of it, and we’ve sometimes had overloaded vessels capsize due to all the fish caught," explains NSRI operations manager Bruce Sandmann, who oversees the establishment of new NSRI bases, including St Helena Bay.

Previously, the nearest NSRI bases were Station 4 (Mykonos) and Station 24 (Lambert’s Bay), with most rescues conducted by Station 4. The long response times, hindered by the distance, emphasised the necessity of a new station. The new base, technically still a substation of Station 4, is a significant boon for the area and has been warmly welcomed by the local community.

The establishment of Station 44, housed in a rented industrial warehouse, was a community-driven effort. Bruce Sandmann highlights the community's involvement: “We’ve had meetings with the community over the years, and plans finally fell into place to establish a station. We sent out a call for volunteers through various channels and received a fantastic response. Some crew members have also migrated from Station 4.”

The crew at St Helena Bay, a diverse group including local fishermen, housewives, students, and professionals, began training under Mykonos' station commander, Nic Stevens.

Family and community engagement

One of the founding members, Devon Wild, who runs a maritime training school in St Helena Bay and is deeply involved in the local community, joined the station at his 17-year-old daughter’s urging. “My entire family is now involved,” says Devon. His wife, Mareza, is training as a shore controller, his eldest daughter is in crew training, and his youngest, aged eight, is part of the informal junior crew.

Devon is optimistic about the station's progress: “At the current rate of training, we should have five to six fully trained crew members by the end of the year, and we hope to be up and running as an independent station within two years.”

NSRI crew training is extensive. It involves familiarising newcomers with the rescue environment and protocols, which takes six months to a year. Only after completing this phase can they qualify for leadership training such as class 4 coxswain. To progress to this level, trainees must log a minimum of 150 hours as crew, 20 hours in rescue operations, 30 night hours, and 100 hours as a trainee class 4 coxswain.

St Helena Bay

Financial and logistical challenges

The expense of starting a new NSRI station is substantial. "Excluding the cost of the vessels, it cost roughly R300 000 to kit out the St Helena Bay substation," Bruce explains.

Despite these challenges, the community and volunteers have shown remarkable resilience and commitment.

On October 4, 2023, the station celebrated its first-ever coxswain, and on December 4, 2023, introduced its first qualified crew members: Lukas Pieterse, Jacques Rosant, Aiden Henkerman, and Daniel Potgieter. Their dedication and hard work have paid off, and they are excited to grow into their roles at NSRI. Devon Wild also received his Coxswain class III ticket over the same weekend.

Advancements and future prospects

In early 2024, Station 44 received its first JetRIB, Spirit of Santam II, funded by Santam. This vessel is part of the NSRI’s drive to roll out a fleet of 58 JetRIBs, pioneering crafts featuring water-jet propulsion for safer rescues.

The JetRIB was officially named and blessed on May 11, 2024, in a ceremony attended by NSRI CEO Dr. Cleeve Robertson and Santam’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, Tersia Mdunge. “Thank you to Santam for sponsoring this amazing rescue craft. In the surf, it is a game changer. JetRIBs have been responsible for many rescues, and this one, Spirit of Santam II, will be available to serve this community because of your kind donation,” said Dr. Robertson.

Nic Stevens oversees the station and is optimistic about its growth: “Station 44 is growing well. We qualified our first four rescue crew members in December, bringing the total crew to 10 active volunteers and four qualified crew members. A few more trainees will soon qualify as well.”

Thanks to the ‘semigration’ phenomenon and more people working remotely in the aftermath of the pandemic, the residential population along the West Coast has grown significantly over the last few years, leading to more bathers, water sport enthusiasts, and boaters getting into difficulty.

“There are more and more people on the water along the coast,” says Nic. “Having a station in St Helena Bay, right in the middle of this zone, reduces response times significantly and means we can save more lives at sea.”

The NSRI's continued efforts and the community’s support underscore the importance of Station 44.

With the ongoing training, acquisition of new equipment, and the dedication of its volunteers, St Helena Bay is set to become a beacon of safety on the West Coast, significantly boosting rescue capacity in the area and ultimately becoming an independently run station.


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